Drunken challenge.

[oscarron]

I was out for drinks with friends for the first time in a couple of months and the subject of my next challenge came up. I ran my first 10km 2 weeks ago and my friends are challenging me to go half marathon. How long will it take to transition from 10k to half marathon and from those who have done this how difficult is it. In fairness they are talking about doing it with me which may make it more manageable.

[poppypug Graduate10]

I will let you know later , I am doing my first HM today ! xxx

[oscarron Graduate10 in reply to poppypug]

Good luck, I hope it goes well and look forward to hearing how you get on.

[PippiRuns]

I'm signed up for my first hm in June next year. I have just reached 10k. I'm sure it can be done faster than that, but it depends on your general fitness level to start with and whether you are aiming for a good time or just aiming to complete it.

Best of luck 🏃

[oscarron Graduate10 in reply to PippiRuns]

I am in no rush to do it but I think my running would benefit from having a longer term goal to work towards.Not sure about choosing an event but late spring early summer would probably be a sensible timescale for me. I never mentioned about the time part of the challenge but my friend who is planning to do it with me wants sub 2 hrs. I have already told him that I would be targeting 2 hrs 15 min but if I naturally get faster with the training so be it.

[Squarewheels66 Graduate10]

Might be difficult finding an HM at this time of year. I was keen to make the jump to HM from 10k (I reached this in September) and there were a few end of November in my area. That seemed a bit too soon. Next one is in Feb 17 which commits me to training through the winter - not a bad thing.

Most of the programmes you see in books or online are 12-15 weeks.

My longest run is 15.5 so far - I'm taking it very slow both in terms of the speed I do the long runs and the rate at which I'm building distance.

[wez70 Graduate10]

OOOSH! Well, here we go ...

I graduated in February this year and by June had done my first 10k then last weekend ran my first Half Marathon. Sounds smug and easy but it certainly wasn't ...

I really enjoyed the freedom of just going out running after graduation and adding to my distance on one of the runs each week, so entered a 10k but pushed the distance too quick ramping up to 9k within about 5 weeks and got injured, albeit only a minor blip that put me out for a couple of weeks. I had to slow down and by the time the 10k came around I had only managed 6k as my longest run but ... on the day it felt good so I managed it.

Half Marathon never entered my mind until like you, there was a moment of madness and the entry form was completed. I followed a Bupa beginners programme which takes 12 weeks and although specifies 4 runs a week, I just did 3 as I think it's really hard when you work etc to commit to 4 times a week. Well, it would have been too hard for me! I got to 19k in my final long run of training and was overjoyed. The race itself started well, however, the Fairy of Fickle Fortune visited on race day and it was one of those days where every km seems to take forever! By 10k I was spurred on by the double figures but at 12 there was hip pain that came from nowhere so by 16k I ended up run/walking the rest as I just wanted to throw myself in the nearest bush and expire! However, I crossed the line, came in at 2hrs 30 and know that if I hadn't had to pull up it would have been about 5 or 6 minutes under that.

Was I gutted? Yes, but I completed it and know that there will always be another shot so a week later I can look at the medal without scowling as I gave myself a slap and said that this time last year, running for 90 seconds was a challenge!

The short answer is yes, it's hard, but hard in the sense that it's a challenge, not an ordeal now and following a structured programme feels good. I am going to consolidate 10k and maybe 10 mile distances for a while now and give the Half another shot when I feel the urge knowing I was 2k off that distance once, I know I can reach it again.

Good luck, this was a saga to read I know but a tale that has been replicated by many I'm sure so keep us posted and good luck!

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10 in reply to wez70]

It's really helpful to read of your experiences. Well done for getting through your HM - that time gives you a benchmark for your next one. And it's not bad either!

[Millsie-J]

I am aiming for my first 10k in March so I cannot advise on HM. I would say though, whatever you decide to do, do it for yourself not your friends, that way you will continue to enjoy your running 👍🏼😃🏃🏻

[hilbean]

I did my first (and only) HM race in March of this year. I did one of the 16 week plans and added an extra couple of weeks to it. That meant that if I had any niggles or anything that I could step back and have some recovery time rather than feel the need to push through anything I shouldn't. Previous to that though I had already been upping my distance but found the training plan invaluable as it made me vary my running. So there would be some intervals, some tempo, some slow etc etc. It can be done quicker than that though. I've seen 12 week training plans and some people just seem to have the ability/strength/stamina to do these things in a much shorter time frame. I do love the long run though and can't say as I found it difficult as I loved being out and the places it took me. That's not to say that some runs weren't hard, just that it was, for the most part, enjoyable. (Let's face it, we all get runs that aren't as great as we'd like them to be )Good luck with your training

[misswobble Graduate10]

It's do-able certainly but don't be in a hurry. It takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day ....

I followed a plan too. I don't think I could have done it safely without it. I agree with Hilbean, run your own race. It's not about what others are doing.

The training is fun! I know autumn is here but there are still some opportunities to get some daylight runs done. The evening and dark morning runs are just to be borne. What don't kill you etc .......

Good luck with it Oscar!